A thrilling last game between Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter plus Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler ends all square.

THE DAY SO FAR...

Numbers sell Euro pair shortBy Carl Markham

The history books will record the match as a 3&2 win for Europe but in reality that does an incredible disservice to Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson's Saturday morning fourballs victory.

Yes, there have been greater iconic moments, there have been plenty more high-pressure situations, but in terms of overall quality it is difficult to recollect a match which possessed so much.

Each pair matched each other birdie for birdie, much like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out in a world title fight - only this contest was all about precision, finesse and the ability to produce at exactly the right moment.

They recorded 21 birdies between them - a new Ryder Cup record - with the 211-yard par-three fourth the only hole on the Gleneagles PGA Centenary course where none of the players could manage better than par.

Smile for the Birdie: Rose celebrates his putt on the 10th hole

"We have those rare moments in the game and I think Ryder Cup is amazing because the pressure is so much that you have one choice, you either focus or you struggle. Obviously I went the right way with it all today," said Rose.

Europe's duo, led impressively by Rose, were 12 under for their 16 holes - another record for the event - but it was the way the Englishman in particular responded to everything the United States pair of Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson threw at them early on.

They were not ahead until the 12th, when Stenson stole his partner's thunder by holing a 15-foot putt having watched Rose drill a mid-iron to four feet, but once they got in front they never released their grip.

But there was no chance of them coasting home as the Americans ensured there was no drop in the high standards they had set themselves by twice halving holes with birdies.

Kuchar set the tone by beating Rose to a birdie at the opening hole but the Englishman's six-footer at the second was the first of seven he would put on his card.

It was not just the scoring but the air of certainty Rose exuded whenever he stood over a putt.

Having seen Watson card his second birdie of the day at the fourth Rose matched it from 18ft, grazed the hole with a birdie attempt at the seventh and holed from 20ft at the eighth to prompt the first real fist-pump, wheeling away to point at the packed gallery behind him as they got back to all square.

Rose's best shot of the day - a brilliant three-wood approach out of deep rough to 20 feet at the par-five ninth - failed to bring any reward as Stenson had already made birdie when he skimmed the hole with his eagle attempt.

Putt after putt dropped - most of Rose's were from outside 10ft - and when the end came Europe had birdied 10 in a row.

"It might be a highlight to put on the big screen with the grandkids one day."

Watson, four under for his own round, could only marvel at the spectacle.

"We probably would have beat all the other teams - we just had to play against them," he said.

"We got two down with four or five holes to play and then we started counting, like, they birdied every hole.

"That's when you realise what a moment that was. Obviously I wish I was on the other end but I guess my name will be in the record book somehow."

Ian Poulter coy on point promiseBy Andy Hampson

Ian Poulter refused to reveal whether he would be making any promises to European captain Paul McGinley on the decisive final day of the Ryder Cup.

Poulter finally rediscovered his touch after two largely indifferent days to secure half a point alongside Rory McIlroy with a strong finish in the Saturday morning fourballs at Gleneagles.

The Londoner, billed as the European team talisman after his past heroics against the United States, slumped to a heavy defeat on Friday and then lacked a spark throughout most of his Saturday round.

That changed as he chipped in at the 15th, claimed a crucial birdie at the next and played a superb approach to the last to ensure the Europeans finished all square with Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.

Poulter's magic moments prompted fist-pumping, chest-thumping celebrations reminiscent not only of Medinah two years ago, but of Celtic Manor in 2010 when he boldly told captain Colin Montgomerie he would deliver in the singles.

Asked whether he would be making similar promises to McGinley, the 38-year-old simply said: "I'm not telling you."

Team-mate Henrik Stenson, accompanying Poulter at a press conference, jokingly said that meant "he can guarantee a half or better" but Poulter would not elaborate.

The 38-year-old, however, was pleased to have finally rediscovered his touch with much having been made prior to competition of his nickname 'Postman', for always delivering.

Poulter said: "There was a lot of emotion. It's been waiting to come out. It took way too long for it to do so, but it was nice to be able to do it in that fashion.

"Fifteenth hole was very much looking like the US team were going to go two up with three to play. It's a funny game sometimes.

"It was nice to get the juices flowing. Not much has gone in the hole yet so far this week.

"Obviously I've only played twice, but it was great to do be able to do that and have Rory there, as backup, as well, to hole that shot at the last was real sweet."

Rose and Stenson star in thrilling second dayBy Phil Casey

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson fired an amazing 10 birdies in succession to claim a third straight win and increase Europe's lead in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

After two victories on the opening day, Rose and Stenson were sent out first in the Saturday fourballs by captain Paul McGinley and responded with a stunning display of golf to beat Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3&2.

The home pair were 12 under par for 16 holes and their American opponents nine under in defeat in a brilliant contest as the players revelled in the calmer conditions.

Rose and Stenson had not trailed at any point on Friday but recovered from losing the opening hole and falling two down after six, despite McGinley revealing Stenson had been struggling with an ongoing back problem.

"We have a little bit of an issue at the moment with Henrik," McGinley told Sky Sports. "He's got a tight back, he's had it for quite a while. He's played a lot of golf, I'm aware of that and we are monitoring him closely today and will make a decision in the afternoon."

Stenson later said he would be resting for the afternoon.

Back issue or not, Stenson started the recovery with a birdie on the seventh and Rose birdied the next to get the home pair back on level terms.

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Both players birdied the par-five ninth and Rose birdied the 10th and 11th as well, although that was only good enough to stay level in a match of the highest quality.

Stenson's birdie on the 12th took Europe ahead for the first time - Rose was also within five feet of the hole - and another Rose birdie on the next put them two ahead.

Stenson maintained that advantage by matching Watson's birdie on the 14th and the Swede looked to have struck a decisive blow when his approach to the next left a tap-in, only for Kuchar to hole from 30 feet across the green for a half.

However, Rose produced another superb pitch to three feet on the par-five 16th to set up that 10th straight birdie which was good enough to secure a welcome win, with Europe trailing in the other three matches.

With Stenson reduced to a spectator, the problems began to mount for Europe as Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan beat Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson 4&3, the European pair recording five birdies between them and failing to win a single hole.

Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer had been two up on rookie pair Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed after three holes but had failed to record a birdie since the seventh hole and duly lost 5&3 to make the match score 6-5 to the home side.

All eyes were now on the bottom match, with Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter one down with four to play against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.